Ship-floating



H. D. DEAM.

SHIP FLOATING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18.1918.

1,31 9,378. Patented 0012. 21, 1919.

- 3 HEETSSHEET 1.

El Z5 m sn/tw THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

Miami M H. D. DEAIVI.

SHIP FLOATING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18.1918.

1,319,378. Patented Oct. 21,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHET 2.

rm; cnumnm mimosa/mi c'0.. WASHINGTON, mc.

H. D. DEAM.

SHIP FLOATING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18.1918- Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- -fZZD67ZtO7 6 77,7 D. Beam U IT 8T HENRY n. VDEAM, or BENTON nanzsoaMxomGeu.

SHIP-FLOATING MEANS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownrthat I, HENRY D. DEAM, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Benton Harbor, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ship- Floating Means, of which the following is T a specification. e i Y This invention relatesto ships and vessels of'all kinds, and has for its objectthe production of apparatus adapted to keep the ship to which it' is attached afloat'when the ship has been injured, or, for any reason, is in danger of sinking. A special object of the inyention is to provide apparatus whichfwhile normally not in position for service, yet maybe quicklyplaced in position;' and also for" providing operating position when desired. Otherobjects of the invention will be apparentupon a consideration of the drawings and the descrip tion thereof. 3

Of the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is vertical sectional view. of a portion of the side of a vessel, with apparatus attached theretopwhrchbmbodies features of my invention. Fig.2 is a similar view with part of the apparatus in place andin condition tc prevent' sinking of the vessel. Fig. 3 is a similar view with other elements in use.

Figs; 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views of a portion of the apparatus shown inFigs.

land 2; and Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail views of the means for operating the ship floating mechanism. And Fig. 8 is an elevation'of' a complete unit in use.

i The general method which I have invented to prevent sinking 1 of the vessel is an improvem'ent on the inventionillustrated and 3 described in an application for a patent, j

Serial No. 117,253, filed by William Schneider, Aug. 28, 1916, in which bags are provided which may be fastened to the side i of the vessel and may. be filledwithfair, or 3 other suitable gases,"so that the buoyancy of i thebags, taken in connection with such buoyancy of the vessel itself, asmay exist,

would besufficient to float'the vessel. The apparatus which I use comprises a large normally, are supportednear theupper por- 131011: of the sides of the vessel in anyflsuite able manner, as is. indicated in Fig. 1. A

- These bags "may be of an suitable size I apparatus in Specification of Letters Patent- I Patented D013. 1919.

Application filed. March 18, 1918' "Serial N0. 223,136. v i

prefer the bags to be of sufiicient length to reach when distended a very material distance down the side of the vessel, andto ible material whichnot only is airtight and 1 water proof, but which would not be injured by the ordinary saltwater of the seas." The upper portion of these bags is fixed in-any suitable manner to the upper portion of the sides of the vessel. In this instance I have shown them fastenedby boltsll, and also by plpes 12 which, at the same time, provide' means for passing air or any suitable gas into'the bags when they are to bedistended. Any, suitable means for supplying compressed gas may be provided. I prefer for the purpose compressed air tanks 22- connected to the bags by means of pipes 12.

"Fixed to that portion of the bag, which is the lower portion when the bags are in use, is a hook 13, and fixed to each end'of these'hooks is a cable 14:, which, normally, 7

as indicated in Fig. 1, passes downwardly through the opening 15 in the side of the vessehand around the pulley 16,'which is inclosed inthe Water tight compartment 17. The cable then passes upwardly through the pipe 18 screwedinto the casing 19 of the compartment. Passing out of the upper end of the pipe 18 the cable is wound around a windlass20, and from thence passes over a pulley21, and downwardly, connecting with the upper end of the book 13; and it iSalSo connected to the bag by the con nector 25. i I

Any suitable means may be provided for operating the windlass 20. The means which I prefer are "hereinafter described.

The cableis prevented from slipping on the Windlass in any suitable manner; and an inspection of Fig. 1 will show, that, when the indlass is rotated in the proper direction, the hook 13, and hence, the portion of the bag to whichfit is attached will be be drawnLby the cable into the compartment pulled downwardly and the hook will finally 1" sufiicientlyso that when the Windlass is "rotated slightly in thcoppo'site direction the hook will becomef' 'attached to the side of the vessel at the point 23, and "this will firmly hold the hook in place, and,hence, the lower -.hooks vl3 may be released by any suitable means, such asby means of poles with suitabletools on the ends, and the Windlasses 20.-rotated to lift the bags. By suitably connecting the bags to the cable 14: at the pointli25, as the bags are-pulled upwardly they willfoldautomatically and ultimately the sides of thevessel so as to :be

ward "rotation.

will assume the position .indicatedby Fig. 1,. being entirelyremoved from the water and susp'endedfrom thelupper portion of quickly available for future use.

Thelmeans which I prefer for operating' the'varioujs windlasses {comprises a lever 30 which (has aforked end adapted topass over .qthe projecting-axis 31 of the windlass. .By'

liiiting upwardly-on the free endof the lever, the wind lass will-:be rotated to V pull the bag downwardly, and the pawl 32 will prevent backward rotation of the Windlass. By.

using the levenonthe-otherside of the Windlass, and forcing f the free end :downward, iafterireleasing the hook:13- andthe pawl. 32-, the windlass. will .beoperated to raise the-bags, the pawl 33preventing back- Whemior any reason, itisfearedthevesselmay sink all :of thebags on both sides of the vessel, or somany of them as may seem advisable, are pulled down to their operating position, either i simultaneously,- or successively, as maybedesired; and compressed air is their passedintoothelbags in- V any'suitable manner sufliciently to keep the 1 would not prevent floating of the ship.

ship afloat. Inasmuch aseach bag audits operating mechanismis a unit byitself and i is independent of each of the other bagsand 1nechanism injuryto any one ormore. of the units will not afliect the other units; so that such: injury unless very comprehensive,

in order to protect the bags when .in'normalposition and not in use, anysuitable means may .be provided. I preferrsfor the purpose metallicv sheets '26, rotatably suspended .at somessuitablepointat the side of Y the vessel by means of suitable apparatus27,

and extending downwardly below the edge of the bags, being held inplace at the lower end-sfwhen thus-supported by, means of the.

rods 28 passing through iopenings29:.in the;

sides fbfthe vessel, When the 'bagsare lowl cred inflated for use these protection:

sel so as to maintain as great aspossiblethe 'againstthe' lower sidesbfthe plates 26, and are supported by the rods 28. The plates serve the double purpose of assisting in supporting the vessel and of protecting the bags.

from rupture at the point where the maximum pressure-occurs."

When the'bags are allowed to collapse and are elevated therods 28 pass into the vessel throughthe openlngs 29 and-drop downwardly, as indicatediin Fig. 1, holding the sheets: 26 in'place.

Bolts 11' pass throughthebags, and thus hold the upper ends of the bagsjfirmly'in place. And wings36 vmay be :fixedto the hooks 13 to prevent their turning sidewise.

The inflated bags frequentlynqwillrcover small openings which-may be produced in the side of-:the vessel, and prevent the inrush 1 of water therein. .1 haveiprovided additional means for preventing the inrushaof water 5 through openings, of any nature, made, in; any manner, through the. sides ofthe Yes-f buoyancy of the vessel itself. 1 Thesemeahs comprise mattresses .40 which, are to be used connected, in anysuitable marinerftor ex-' ample by means of cords 41,1andhooks-42, to eyes 43; fixedto the hooks 13:;the upper edges of the mattresses being supported chy meansof cords Hand hooks45g-hooked to the upper side of the vessel. Whenever'vit is desired to cover an opening in theside of the vessel the bags-1 0 oppositetheo-pening are lowered "in the usual manner, and sheets ormattresses 40, fixed to the hooks 13 which are associated.'with f suchbaigs, areloWered,

- with themattresses-placed Qinsuch :a-manneras to cover the opening. The pressu-re'o fthe water then forces the, bags and .the neattresses against the sideofthe vessel and will prevent any very material inflow ofwater through theopening. 'Theimattresses may;

beofany suitablesize.andanysuitahle ma P terial and reinforced in any suitable} manner. In order 1301110136 --coinpletely fillthe hole compressed air maybe passed into, the bags under the yma-ttresses; Compressed air for the purpose, ,and for filling thesbags comg i pletely at any timean ay be obtainedfrom the compressed air-tanks"22.

From this it will be seen that by inflating a suitable number of bags theves'sePmay'be H fioatedeven-though alargeamount ofwatern a may flow through openings into theinteriomt 1120 but by thehse of the mattresses 'in aproper".

manner, thus reducing .oreliminating the in-. flow of water, the-numberoiiinflated bags, may be materially reduced; orthevessel un- 1 der the most serious --circumstances may be. floated temporarily orpermanently.

Iclai n as my invention:

1.. .In a ship, alchamberwin the. lower' portion eesna ship,.ani-opening, through the',

side. ofsaid; ship; into. said,ohaiggal en, a guide E mounted in said chamber, an opening in the upper portion of said chamber, a guide mounted in said ship, a cable passing through said first mentioned opening into said chamber, around said guide and up wardly through said second mentioned opening and around said second mentioned guide, means for moving said cable longitudinally, and a bag fixed to said cable.

2. In a ship, a chamber in the lowerportion of saidship, an opening through the side of said ship into said chamber, a guide mounted in said chamber, an opening in the upper portion of said chamber, a guide mounted in said ship, a cable passing through said firstmentioned opening into said chamber, means for moving said cable longitudinally, a bag fixed to said cable, and a hook fixed to said cable adapted to hook into the edge of the opening in the sideof said ship when said cable is moved so as to carry said bag downwardly.

3. A ship in combination witha bag, the upper edge ofsaid bag being permanently fastened to the upper portion of one side of said ship, means fixed to the lower edge of said bag for pulling said latter edge downward, means for filling said bag withgas, and means independent of said pulling down means for locking said bag in its downward position, said means comprising an opening in the side of said vessel and'a hook adapted to hook into said opening. V

4. A ship, a pulley supported by the upper portion of one side of said ship, a pul ley supported by the lower portion of the side of the ship, a cable passing around both of said pulleys, one branch of said cable being positioned inside of the ship, a

of said pulleys, one branch of said cable being positioned inside of the ship, a bag fixed to said cable, and means for moving said cable around said-pulleys in either direction, whereby a portion of said bag may be pulled downwardly or upwardly along the side of said ship, and means for locking said cable from backward movement when said bag portion has been moved downwardly.

6. In a ship, a chamber in the lower portion of said ship, an opening through the side of said ship into said chamber, a guide mounted in said chamber, an opening in the upper portion of said chamber, a guide mounted in said ship, a cable passing through said first mentioned opening into said chamber, around said guide and upwardly through said second mentioned opening around said second mentioned guide, and over the side of said ship, the ends of said cable being connected, means for moving said cable longitudinally, and a bag fixed to said cable.

7. In a ship, a chamber in the lower portion of said ship, an opening through the side of said ship into said chamber, a guide mounted in said chamber, an opening in the upper portion of said chamber, a guide mounted in said ship, a cable passing through said first mentioned opening into said chamber, around said guide and upwardly through said second mentioned opening around said second mentioned guide, and over the side of said vessel, the ends of said cable being connected, means for moving said cable longitudinally, a bag fixed to said cable, and a hook fixed to said cable adapted to hook into the edge of the opening in the side of said ship when said cable is moved so as to carry said bag downwardly.

8. A ship in combination upper edge of said bag being permanently fastened to the upper portion of one side of said ship, means fixed to the lower edge of said bag for pulling said latter edge downward, means for filling said bag with gas, and means independent of said pulling down means for locking said bag in its downward position.

9. A ship in combination with a bag, the upper edge of said bag being permanently fastened to the upper portion of one side of said ship, means fixed to the lower edge of said bag for pulling said latter edge downward, and a'flexible sheet with its lower edge connected to the latter means adjacent the lower edge of said bag. 10. A ship in combination with a bag, the upper edge of said bag being permanently fastened to the upper portion of one side of said ship, means fixed to the lower edge of said bag, for pulling said latter edge downward, and a flexible sheet with its lower edge connected to the latter means adjacent the lower edge of said bag, and means for connecting the upper edge of said sheet tolthe upper portion of the side of said vesse In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand.

HENRY D. DEAM.

copies-of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

with a bag, the 

